Tuesday, July 31, 2007 NSO launches census survey By Danilo V. Adorador III
PERSONAL information is compulsory and should be given accurately during the nationwide population survey, said the regional census bureau, warning violators could be fined or imprisoned, or be slapped with both penalties.
The 25-day national population census, starting Wednesday, comes at a time of declining trends toward the use of modern birth control methods--in favor of the less-effective traditional family planning approaches.
From a population of 76,498,735 in 2000, the number of Filipinos is expected to reach 88,706,300, according to the medium projection of the National Statistics Office (NSO). In 2010, NSO projected the population to be at 94,013,200.
Northern Mindanao's population was projected to be at 4,995,855 in 2005, from 3,505,708 in 2000. It is expected to grow by over 5 million, with the regional center Cagayan de Oro, which has 461,877 residents in 2000, maintaining its record as the most populated urban area in the region.
Although the growth rate was estimated to decline from 2.34 percent from the 90's to around 1.0 percent during the 2030-2040 period, NSO estimated that a whooping 65 million people would still be added to the nation's population between from 2000 to 2040. That translates to 141.7 million people by 2040, NSO data show.
The specter of an overpopulated Philippines worry economists, who said the country's depleting resources could barely sustain an impoverished majority. And the signs of population explosion remain stark.
A 2005 NSO survey showed more women have considered shifting to traditional or natural family planning methods as compared to using the more effective modern approaches. The survey revealed that more women have decided to stop practicing modern family planning methods because of their desire to have more children and their husbands do not want them to use contraceptives.
The government recently decided to shift from the modern family planning methods in favor of the less-effective traditional approaches. The departure earned criticisms from population control advocates.
Meanwhile, the population census will be administered through a "self-administered" questionnaire for exclusive places such as subdivisions, condominiums, etc. For all other residents, a face-to-face question and answer format will be used.
Questions will focus on personal circumstances, and the information provided will not be used for any other purpose, according to the NSO.
Those who refused to comply with the survey could face a three-month imprisonment and/or fine of P600.
Population surveys are aimed at generating critical data for decision-making of the government and the private sector, NSO said.
This year's census is the 11th; it had been conducted since 1903, 1918, 1939, 1948, 1960, 1975, 1980, 1990, 1995 and 2000.
